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Before we begin reviews of this weeks issues, I wanted to mention that Martian Manhunter: Vol. 1: The Epiphany is now available. This is one of the unexpectedly awesome books DC has published lately and it stands alone as a great SF invasion story.

Also of particular interest this week is Omega Men #9, another terrific issue spotlighting Green Lantern Kyle Rayner in what’s fast becoming a modern classic, so much so that there’s a scene this week that Ray compares favorably to the classic The Watchmen.

Martian Manhunter’s multiple selves. Panel copyright DC Comics

As for the more well-known Green Lantern? Hal Jordan’s series hits issue #50, a milestone for the new 52 reboot. Ray finds that the whole series was rewarding but I’m not even close to Hal Jordan’s biggest fan.

Welcome to our reviews of this week’s DC Comics. As always, Ray Goldfied handles the plot recaps, while I riff on the highlights and lowlights. (Looking for last week? Look here!)

Swamp Thing is back, Hal Jordan and Parallax are both on Earth and Superman in the video game is still evil and now we have the full slate of reviews, including the latest issue of Batman & Robin Eternal, plus more Bombshells, and a fine detective story for Jim Gordon in the latest issue of Detective.

Ray: I know Corrina named this issue as her favorite of the series, and I’m really curious to see why. I’m partial to last week’s Cass-centric issue. That’s not to say this issue isn’t excellent, though. The story is split fairly evenly between flashback segments and present-day segments. In the past, Bruce and Dick take the fight to Scarecrow and Batman dispatches Robin to defuse a bomb on the roof – so he can confront Scarecrow personally. Scarecrow makes an attempt to surrender, saying Mother’s deranged plan to essentially lobotomize a generation of children with intense trauma goes too far, but Batman has other ideas. He agrees to give Scarecrow protective custody only if Scarecrow goes back inside Mother’s organization and reports back to him. It’s pretty clear at this point that Batman’s involvement with Mother is all a deep-cover operation, and any regrets he had are all about not being able to do enough.

Meanwhile, in the present day, Mother has set up the base to terminate with Dick, Harper, Cass, and the evil Orphan inside. Orphan, however, isn’t willing to cooperate to get them all out alive, as he’s still a true believer. Cass’ penchant for self-sacrifice becomes clear as she willingly takes a knife through the hand to protect Harper without flinching, and the bulk of the issue becomes a mad dash to escape an army of killer robot defenses that the lair has set up to take them out. In between the chaos, though, we get some great scenes between Harper and Cass and a fantastic speech by Dick Grayson about why he still has faith in Batman. It’s like Tynion wanted to put all the worries people had about the portrayal of Bruce to rest with this issue. If the person closest to Bruce still believes in him, shouldn’t we? It doesn’t have quite the emotional punch of last issue, but it’s another fantastic installment in one of DC’s best books. I’ve never seen a weekly that maintains this level of quality on all fronts.

Corrina: My fondness for this issues goes to this scene, and full credit to Tynion, because he is great with dialogue.

Welcome to our weekly recap of DC comics’ new releases. Ray is the protoypical DC reader, while I’m always searching for that comic that will appeal to new readers and might make them a comic fan for life.

This week has a strong candidate in that vein in the Darkseid War Green Lanternbook, with a story that Ray and I loved unequivocally. There’s also the debut of a Hollywood-connected origin story for Superman, American Alien, which focuses on Clark’s childhood and struggle to control his new abilities. Ray feels it treads familiar ground but I loved the optimism in the book. Too bad Max Landis’ take on Jonathan Kent wasn’t on the big screen.

Also, more fun with DC Bombshells, the Bat-kids, and Starfire, while Gordon Batman looks to be in over his head again, and we take a walk with Constantinethrough his daily life, which is as weird as you might guess.

Ray: King is riding an incredible hot streak right now, with a popular run on Grayson, Omega Men being critically acclaimed, and Vision getting the best reviews of the Marvel relaunch.

Now he can add the best Green Lantern comic since Geoff Johns bid his farewell to that list. This one-shot focuses on Hal Jordan as he prepares to take on the mantle of the former New God of Light, Lightray. However, where it even outdoes the excellent Batman issue is in its compelling portrayal of the psychological toll that this kind of power would take on a man – especially a man, like Hal Jordan, who has been tempted by unlimited power before. It’s not mentioned explicitly in the book, but it’s impossible to read without remembering Hal’s fall from grace with Parallax. Continue reading DC This Week: Definitive Green Lantern, New Superman Origin & Constantine Gets Naked

Each week, Ray Goldfield and I review DC Comics new releases so you don’t have to. Ray is a long-time DC reader. It takes a great deal for him to give up on a book. I’m a long-time DC reader with far less patience, so we often disagree on the books.

This week, we’re both still pleased with the new Batman status quo but whereas Ray still enjoys Green Lantern, I’m lost within its complicated and backstory-filled plot, while I enjoyed an alternate universe Wonder Woman and Ray thought the story was random.

We both strongly endorse the Book of the Week, Midnighter #3.

Also, this week I’m going to start keeping track of women in the credits. Because I’m curious. This week, out of 28 major credits: one woman.

Ray: I had given up the Wildstorm line of characters for dead ever since Nathan Edmondson left Grifter behind, but Steve Orlando and Aco have done the unthinkable and made Midnighter—yes, the 90’s ultraviolent take on gay Batman—one of the best new titles in the DCU. Thus far, Orlando has smartly kept the title to done-in-one stories focusing on Midnighter’s various missions, bookended by sequences of his personal life as he attempts to rebound from a nasty breakup with Apollo. The book’s tone is much more similar to a spy thriller than a traditional super-hero book, and while the extreme violence that the character is known for is present, it feels like it’s used much better than it used to be. The inventive panel layouts when Midnighter demolishes a room of thugs make it seem more like a ballet of violence than a slaughterhouse.

This issue’s main case finds Midnighter on the trail of a kidnapped girl, who has been taken by a mad scientist who is seeking a way to transplant minds into new, healthier bodies, and who has employed the self-cloning criminal Multiplex as his muscle. Countless disposable clones? You know Midnighter’s going to have fun here, but I was also impressed with the compassion he showed towards his young rescuee and her mother. The segments with his new SO Matt are fun, and I’m looking forward to the showdown with Agent Grayson teased at the end of this issue. This book is a sleeper that deserves more readers, and anyone with an interest in either spy comics or LGBT leads would be advised to pick this up.

Corrina: I can’t add much to Ray’s comprehensive review but what most impresses me about this title is that the creative team has taken what should be a cliche–bitter, uber-violent superhero–and made him a full-fledged human being. I care if Midnighter wins or loses. I even kinda want him to win over Dick Grayson and Helena Bertinelli of Spyral, especially since he grabbed Dick and made a joke about “date night.”

While not quite up to the masterpiece that Scott Snyder’s Batman run is turning into, Brian Buccellato’s soon-to-be-concluded run on Detective is turning into a satisfying companion piece. Last issue saw Jim Gordon ditching his cumbersome Batsuit to take on the La Morte gang hands-on. He fights them back and knocks out two of them, but one gets away—with the power core of his suit, which was what they were going for all along. It soon becomes clear that the gang, along with whoever is employing them, is targeting a major gathering at the Gotham Circus for an attack, and Harvey reveals that Yip is dirty to the rest of the team, asking Gordon to help him kill her. Meanwhile, the escaped La Morte member heads to a rendezvous with his Falcone Family handler, who proceeds to then sell the core to the Joker’s Daughter. Can’t say I’m thrilled to see this cut-rate Harley appear again, especially when the original is doing so well right now, but maybe this will be her first good storyline. Bullock confronts Yip, trying to find a way to get her back on their side, but it goes about as well as you’d expect. And in the closing moments of the issue, it becomes clear what the Joker’s Daughter wanted the power core for—to power her own giant Joker robot. It’s all a bit ridiculous in places, especially given the grounded police-heavy tone of the previous arc, but it’s definitely entertaining. Buccellato and Blanco are embracing Snyder’s new status quo with gusto, and hopefully Tomasi’s run will follow suit.

Corrina: Hey, Jim Gordon is running around Gotham in a robot Batman suit. We’re already in ridiculous territory! But it works because Jim himself realizes how massive this job can be and that he’s still learning. The art reminds me strongly of Michael Lark’s work on Gotham Central or Alex Maleev on Daredevil.So I know what Ray means about ridiculous, because on one side, it’s a gritty police procedural with science fiction elements. On the other hand, it has a monster-size Joker robot. Here’s hoping it ends with the Joker’s daughter (ugh!) in custody and the monster robot destroyed. Oh, and I’m pretty sure Harvey wants to kill his partner in the sense of making it look like she’s dead so she can start a new life.

Ray: The third and unfortunately weakest of these darker alternate takes on the trinity, this take on Wonder Woman is the most radically changed from the original in a way that doesn’t quite work. Batman is still a crime-fighting creature of the night. Superman is still a super-powered refugee from the stars. Wonder Woman is…a New God who is stranded on Earth and joins a hippie commune in the ’60s? This Wonder Woman is Bekka of the New Gods, last seen in Sinestro, and here she crash-lands right before the Cuban Missile Crisis. While exploring Earth and trying to fight injustice, she comes across a traveling band of Acid-popping hippies, and agrees to come with them to their farm. One of the guys, Guitar Joe, quickly becomes a friend and maybe more, but the other, calling himself Doctor Psycho, is engaging in dangerous psychotropic experiments that are driving people insane. When she tries to stop him, he poisons her and makes her see her fellow hippies as the enemy, then mutates his prisoners into Bat-like monsters. This isn’t so much a darker take on WW like the other two, just a weird, random one.

Corrina: I disagree. I thought this comic was entirely in the spirit of Wonder Woman. I opened it with trepidation. It seemed every Wonder Woman alternate take ups the violence and turns her into a killing machine. This comic was a pleasant surprise in that it focused on her compassion and her need to understand humanity. No, it’s not Princess Diana, but Bekka’s quest for truth and a community that she could call home captured Wonder Woman’s spirit. It also reminded me, in a good way, of Amanda Conner and Darwyn Cooke’s take on Silk Spectre in the Before Watchmen series. The only place readers can find the Wonder Woman who isn’t Princess McStabby Sword is in the digital-first Sensation Comics.

This is an alternate take on the idea of Wonder Woman but it’s far more on the nose than the majority of Wonder Woman stories being published right now.

Bat-Mite #3 – Dan Jurgens, writer, Corin Howell, artist

Ray: 8/10

Corrina: Buy It? Maybe.

Ray: Of the two new comedy titles that DC launched, this one is the one that feels much more grounded in the real DCU while still embracing the absurd. Rather than keeping Bat-mite in his own wacky world, Dan Jurgens gets most of the laughs by contrasting him with the rest of the DCU. And there’s no better character for that than this issue’s guest start, the littlest Grimdark, Damian Wayne. We open with Bat-mite getting on his new roommate’s nerves (although as one of them is a federal agent assigned to study him, they may not kick him out), before heading out on his quest to save the day. He stumbles upon Robin, who’s been captured by the new villain Gridlock and temporarily paralyzed. That’s Gridlock’s power, and his motivation…well, his motivation seems to be that he’s a grumpy old man. He hates progress and wants to slow the world down like the good old days. He’s kind of ridiculous as a villain, but then he’s supposed to be in a title like this. Most of the fun comes from Damian bickering and fighting with Bat-Mite as they work together against Gridlock. Although again, this bugs me every issue—if Bat-Mite is some sort of powerful reality-altering imp, why is he constantly getting beat up or nearly drowned. Either way, the jokes work and next issue promises a team up with Jurgens’ signature character, Booster Gold. Looking forward to the rest of this mini.

Corrina: The charm of this book entirely depends on the reader’s attachment to the little psychopath, er, the Damian Wayne Robin. As such, it’s fun to read the contrast between the fun-loving Bat-Mite and the grimmer than Batman Robin. But I rather like Bat-Mite’s interactions with regular humans better than those with costumed heroes and villains. I could easily read a series of “Bat-Mite screws up his human’s life” again stories. But that should happen next week with Booster Gold, so it’s a win/win.

Green Lantern #43 – writer, Robert Vendetti, artist, Ethan Van Sciver

Ray: 7.5/10

Corrina: Buy It? No.

Ray: The new “Space Pirates” status quo got off to an interesting start as Hal built his team, composed of a nasty ship AI, an orphaned alien prince, and a ruthless slaver who is currently a captive. However, it’s starting to drag a bit as the smallness of the cast shows. The issue opens well with Black Hand showing up on a world beset by plague to try to resurrect someone, only to cause the world to be entombed in Source Wall stone like the last world we saw. Surprisingly, Ethan Van Sciver does full art on this issue, and no one draws cosmic horror quite like that guy.

Cutting to Hal’s ship, they’ve just encountered the alien scientist Relic, who escaped from the Source Wall. Given Relic’s blood vendetta against all ring bearers, Hal goes undercover and tries to communicate with him and find out what he knows. However, all this goes sideways when Virgo tries on Hal’s gauntlet to be ready to provide backup, and knocks himself out, causing a massive discharge of energy that alerts Relic to who’s watching him. Naturally, he attacks and it becomes a race against time to restart the ship and escape before he wipes them out. It’s exciting, but doesn’t really give us any answers or advance the plot too much. We do get hints of a new villain when a representative of the Gray Agents, a new threat, shows up to destroy the gaming den where Virgo and Trapper were found. There’s potential here, but it’s got a bit too much of a “Star Trek: Voyager” vibe right now.

Corrina: Black Hand. Relic the alien scientist. Gray Agents, Virgo….there’s so much in this issue that it’s over-stuffed, except for the terrific panel spreads by Van Sciver. Not a GL fan, specifically not a Hal Jordan fan, and there’s nothing for a casual reader in this book to grab onto. This one is strictly for die-hards.

Omega Men #3 – Tom King, writer, Barnaby Bagenda, artist,

Ray: 7/10

Corrina: Buy It: Yes, if you have the first few issues

Ray: Much like Midnighter, this title seems determined to experiment with format and style every issue, and it does so in much more drastic ways than the other book. For one thing, every issue seems to open with a cold open, throwing us into a new situation, often a new planet, and letting us figure it out as we go on. It often feels much more like an Image book than a DC book. This issue opens on a colony of the Citadel populated by a religious minority that rules over the natives on this world. We’re introduced to a ruthless Princess who requires natives to duel her with swords and kills them without mercy. As she and her advisor discuss affairs, they come under attack by Tigorr and other members of the Omega Men, who fight them brutally and apparently fatally in some cases. The Omega Men capture the princess, take her back to their ship, and implant her with the same bomb that they gave Kyle before introducing their two captives to each other. At which point we find out that Princess Kalista was in on it the whole time and is in fact Primus’ lover and the leader of the Omega Men. Points for ambition and for the clearest narrative in any of the three issues so far. This title is still a bit scattered, but it might be finding its footing.

Corrina: This is an ambitious title that is (I think) chronicling an intergalactic rebellion. That means a huge cast of characters and mysterious motivations from all sides. It’s all intriguing but, as Ray said, it’s a bit of a mess. That’s because the title seems to restart each issue with focus on someone else or a new angle instead of building on what was established in the previous issues.

The end result is a huge cast of characters in an ill-defined situation but with a creative team that is obviously talented and knows where it’s going. This is one of those comics where it might be better from a storytelling standpoint to wait for the trade and get it all at once, instead of bits and pieces.

The Flash: Season Zero #11 – story by Andrew Kreisberg, script by Lauren Certo, pencils by Phil Hester, inks by Eric Gapstur

Ray: 7/10

Corrina: Buy It? No, unless you’re so eager for season 2 of the Flash that a comic will do.

Ray: This title taking place in and around the first season of the hit TV series is coming to a close next issue, and while all anthologies are a mixed bag, I think this series has been significantly better than the equivalent Arrow title. This issue focuses on the team of Captain Cold and Heatwave, soon to be starring in their own spin-off, and shows us how the team actually got together. Barry and Joe are trying to track the duo down, and that leads Joe to share the story of the first time he encountered them, back when Snart was a low-level heist man saddled with an incompetent crew who screwed up a major heist. Seeking better help, he recruited Mick, a flame-obsessed criminal who was more than a little intense but good at what he did. After helping Snart escape the cops, they teamed up on an elaborate heist at the art museum, complete with threatening the entire art collection with fiery destruction. This is one of the best representations of the duality of the two criminals I’ve seen in a while, and while the story’s just sort of there, the characterization is strong throughout.

Corrina: If the Arrow digital-first series is worse than this, I guess I haven’t missed much. This is basically the backstory of how Captain Cold and Heatwave first teamed up. I enjoy their comic counterparts most of the time but the television versions have left me, well, cold. So while Ray sees strong characterization, I just see more of Cold planning things to the second, over and over and Heatwave setting things on fire. I get it! One’s anal and the other is spontaneous. Pass.

Batman Beyond #3 – Dan Jurgens, writer, Bernard Chang,

Ray: 6/10

Corrina: Buy It? No.

Ray: Dan Jurgens’ other book this week is hobbled by the fact that it’s lacking absolutely everything that makes Bat-mite work—that is, a sense of humor, a sense of fun, and a sense of optimism. It’s not a terrible book on the surface, in that the art is good, the storytelling is clear enough, and Tim Drake isn’t written badly, but who saw the original Batman Beyond cartoon and thought “You know what would make this better? If it was set in some horrible Skynet meets the Walking Dead hellhole!”? Future’s End didn’t work for a reason. When we open, Tim is being tortured by Brother Eye and forced to relive his life, but Barbara Gordon and the ALFRED AI manage to snap him out of it, allowing him to turn the tables on Brother Eye and escape. It’s revealed that Eye is keeping Inque’s daughter hostage, which is the reason she’s working with him. Tim is able to rescue Max and Barbara and take them back to the safe house, where Matt finally gives him his blessing to carry on for his brother. Unfortunately, Brother Eye managed to follow them back, and now Neo-Gotham is vulnerable to invasion from the cyborg army. There’s pretty much nothing here but unrelenting grimness, and that’s disappointing.

Corrina: This series couldn’t help being terrible because it was a follow-up to the terrible and mostly pointless adjective-less Future’s End event. Why would we want to follow up on Terry McGuinness’ death? I have no idea. I was intrigued by the addition of older Barbara Gordon to the cast. (Is the new future Batgirl around? Not so far.) But now I’m just hoping this series ends as soon as possible.

Ray: This title started off incredibly well under Tom Taylor, but as it drags on towards its 50th issue, it seems to have unfortunately become a generic fight comic. Despite both sides bringing their biggest threats, neither one seems able to deliver a killing blow, despite one being lead by Superman. It’s essentially a more one-sided version of Civil War. Hercules is about to kill Wonder Woman when Shazam streaks out out the air and beats him down. Shazam is easily the best part of this issue, actually sounding like a kid in the middle of a war. Shazam hesitates in killing Hercules after stopping him, only for Superman to fly back onto the battlefield and finish the job. Zeus, enraged at his son’s murder, orders a full invasion and Superman is hit with a plague arrow, and a lightning bolt hits Shazam and takes away his powers in mid-air. Meanwhile, Batman and Damian have their long-awaited rematch, but this Damian is so unlikable and cruel to his father that it just makes me long for their dynamic in the main line.

Corrina: Everybody fights everyone, Harley Quinn makes some jokes in the background, and Bruce and Damian Wayne throw-down because Damian is upset Bruce blamed him for Dick’s death. Comics are fun, kids! This is, naturally, based on the game. The initial series had some horrible moments, (hey, let’s have Superman accidentally kill a pregnant Lois!) and yet had some poignant moments, but now it all seems like one big fight-fest. Pass.

Ray: With no Sinestro in sight, this title—now co-written by Frank Barbiere, because something had to go with Cullen Bunn writing 92 titles every month—descends back into the space ultraviolence that has been its M.O. for the entire run so far. Lobo is in thrall to Countess Fabria Odessa, a ruthless space crime lord who controls people via robotic spiders that she implants in their skin. There are way too many shots of spiders crawling on and in people, BTW, so be warned. It’s revealed that she’s running an operation providing body parts for those who may need them, but other than that she remains a stock villain. An assassin, Wyvern Cross of the Citadel (from Omega Men) intervenes and helps Lobo get free before trying to recruit him, but Lobo has his own agenda and declines. There is an interesting twist at the end, as Odessa reveals that her main goal was to get Lobo’s DNA to clone him, but otherwise, this series doesn’t really have an interesting hook.

Corrina: Still not interested in whether Lobo lives or dies, still not interested in this plot that takes Lobo across the universe in search of some traitor in some secret assassin group. I suppose I should be impressed by Lobo’s cleverness or freaked out by the robot mind-controlling spiders but I’m with Ray. There’s no interesting hook in this series, for new readers or old.

Ray Goldfield is a Writer/Editor for Grayhaven Comics, as well as the author of two novels currently in editing. A comic fan for over 20 years, particularly of DC and Superman, Batman, and the Teen Titans. Now that Cassandra Cain is coming back, he will not rest until DC greenlights a Young Justice: Season Three comic.

Image: Sarah Pinault. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, my son gets energy tips from Steampunk Iron (Wo)Man.

My children, two and five, believe that mealtimes are an unnecessary interruption to their busy lives. My youngest will happily chow down on a handful of Cheerios as he’s bouncing off the walls, but sit him down for a meal and we have a battle ahead of us. My eldest doesn’t even want the Cheerios! Occasionally he will eat a dinosaur tree (broccoli), but most of the time he will even refuse a big plate of spaghetti if it stands between him and his toys.

Whilst they have decided that their intake is not an important part of daily life, their output has not decreased. They have just as much energy, just as much get up and go, as they did while eating seconds and thirds at every meal. I must therefore hypothesize that my boys derive their energy not from food, but from some alternative energy source. I have narrowed it down as follows:

1. They have Kryptonian blood coursing through their veins and derive strength from the yellow Sun.

2. The plastic ring that was given to my eldest by a nice lady at the grocery store actually contains a piece of Starheart and has him encased in a life-supporting force field.

3. They are not merely my sons, but are the avatars of some long forgotten god such as Khonshu.

4. They have a genetic mutation, a la Hank McCoy, that will only fully appear upon reaching puberty. Heaven help me!

5. They were caught in a nuclear explosion while at daycare, and now have the ability to create identical duplicates. What I am seeing is not one active little boy, but several more sedate ones.

6. They are able to convert impact energy into raw strength. Therefore the more active they are, the more things they crash into, the stronger they become.

7. Their energy is linked to their environment, and somehow increases as parental energy levels decrease.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom’s Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week, we take a look at a few of the Futures End one-shots from DC Comics.

Corrina–Futures End #1 Special issues.

cover copyright DC Comics

September has turned into a month for DC gimmicks, er, events, to entice readers to buy comics they wouldn’t normally try. Last year was Villains Month, but this time DC heroes get the spotlight back in Futures End spotlights. This is based five years in the DC future when, presumably, things have gone very bad because of refugees who came from a dying Earth-2.

Except few of these heroes seem like heroes to me. To paraphrase Syndrome from The Incredibles, isn’t murder a little dark for them?

The most hopeful of them was, oddly, Green Arrow because he was the hero who died in the first issue of the Futures End weekly comic. Green Arrow joins forces with his enemies and plays a trick on the world in a fine story by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino. It’s too bad Lemire is off this book because his run has been the best this title has been in years.

Cover copyright DC Comics

Then there’s Grayson and Detective Comics. Grayson is told ending first, then into the past, ending with his first appearance as Robin. It’s imaginative storytelling but it has Dick Grayson, the most hopeful hero in the DC Universe, outright murdering an evil dictator in front of witnesses. Not a trick, Dick somehow feels if he does nothing, then he becomes responsible for every evil the dictator does after that. Yes, we are five years into a dark future but it feels all wrong for Dick, plus the ending is literally left hanging.

And Batman isn’t much better in Detective Comics, abandoning another villain to be murdered/tortured by another group of villains. Yes, he just walks away, unconcerned. That was the point where I shook my head and eyed the other comics in front of me warily.

Earth-2 wasn’t much better. Less villain murder but plenty of killing, plus a plot that ties in so heavily to Futures End that I didn’t understand much of what was happening. Let’s just say that Mr. Terrific, in any incarnation, isn’t so terrific these day.

And Green Lantern? I dislike Hal Jordan as a rule so I saved it for last. Happily, all Hal does is help slaughter some Black Lanterns, who aren’t really alive, so that was a good change. And there are tender moments between Hal and his Black Lantern father, who’s trying hard not to be evil. There is a big epic battle, as always happens in Lantern comics, and a bittersweet ending that would otherwise seem dark but Hal’s been dead a couple of times before, so that’s also standard protocol for him at this point.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week, I dive into the latest Marvel Season One title, while Corrina checks DC Comics Justice League of America, Green Lantern:New Guardians and Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion. Sophie gets us up to date with X-Files Season 10 and Melody gives us a look into her daughter Ella’s pull-pile with Monsters Are Afraid of the Moon. For our manga lovers out there, Rebecca clues us in on Happy Marriage.

Marvel Season One titles have been my first comic book experience with many of Marvel’s characters. Thanks to Avengers vs. X-Men, I was familiar with Thor, but there were still some pieces of his puzzle missing.

Thor’s origin story in this issue is more about self-discovery than action and thrills as we watch an arrogant Thor get tricked by Loki and thrown out of Asgard by his father.

This graphic novel included many pieces of Thor’s story but the part I found most interesting were the details of Thor’s life on Earth and how he came to return to his home of Asgaud. Seeing Thor as crippled human Doctor Donald Blake, leaving a big name hospital and starting his own community clinic really made him feel like a hero, even if he was lacking a cape.

A bonus for the ladies is Thor / Donald Blake is drawn just as nicely on the eyes as Chris Helmsworth is.

The violence and language are kept pretty PG, so I feel comfortable recommending this for anyone 10-years-old and up. Of course, Marvel lists it as 12 and up, and part of the fun of being a parent, is making that final judgement for yourself.

Corrina–Justice League of America #8 by Matt Kindt and Doug MahnkeForever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #1 of 6 by Brian Buccellato and Patrick ZircherGreen Lantern: New Guardians #24 by Justin Jordan and Brad Walker

If you’re a casual reader of DC Comics, these issues aren’t going to be your way into the DC Universe. If, on the other hand, you’re reading DC’s Forever Evil event or Lights Out, the reworking of the Green Lantern myth, JLA and GL: New Guardians are essential.

JLA finally gives us clues to the fate of the supposedly dead heavy hitters of the DC Universe: Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Shazam. The Crime Syndicate, their evil alternate universe doubles, claims they are dead but this story reveals the heroes are stuck in a prison that makes them relieve their worst nightmares over and over. Stargirl and Martian Manhunter seek a way to free the heroes and themselves from this strange world as Manhunter travels from one individual prison to another. He’s joined by an odd version of Firestorm, who may or may not be what he seems. Mahnke’s art shines, especially as doors open and close into the different worlds/hell of each hero. Flash, vibrating too fast, is incredibly kinetic.

I have an issue with Wonder Woman’s version of a prison/hell, however, as she’s in a continual fight to either free one of her two current loves, Superman or Steve Trevor. First because I dislike the way Wonder Woman’s “warrior” side seems to be all that’s emphasized in recent stories, and second, because her hell is connected to her romantic interests, rather than any of her own personal struggles. Flash is worried he’s doing things too fast or not enough, Shazam is letting his inner child take over to smash things, Green Lantern feels like he should live down to everyone’s worst opinion of him, and Superman is trapped in guilt for what he hasn’t done. But Wonder Woman is focused on her loves, not on her inner self.

It was very nice to see Stargirl in this series, and the ending seems to promise she’ll be essential to whatever happens next.

GL: New Guardians is one of those epic stories in which everything seemingly has been destroyed and then help comes from unknown mystical entities who never explain themselves. In other words, Kyle Rayner (White Lantern) is someone who’s put on the One Ring, while the entities controlling him are ultra-powerful versions of Sauron, though these entities claim they can help the Lantern corps fight an enemy that’s already destroyed their homeworld. The story has little of the annoying Hal Jordan (who seems to be a one-dimensionally hot-tempered type here) and lots of Kyle, it works well, and should have readers of the saga eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

As for the Rogues book, it’s well-written and well-illustrated but the appeal seems limited to those already fans of Flash’s entertaining Rogues Gallery or those who love a good villain/villain fight. Flash’s Rogues have always been full of redeeming values and here’s their chance to be heroes of a sort as they’re dumped into a Central City ravaged by the events of Forever Evil and without the protection of the Flash. They free captured cops, visit a sick relative in a hospital, and refuse to follow the orders of a more brutal group of villains. Battle ensues.

I wanted to share just one quick review of a short story I recently read to Ella. It being October, we are still on the topic of Monsters and all manor of things that go bump in the night. We found in her collection Monsters are Afraid of the Moon by Marjane Satrapi. She is most famous for her Persepolis series told in graphic novel format. That book is an autobiographical story of her family and her life during the Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979, and was also made into an animated film in 2007.

This 32-page book is a much simpler tale of a girl named Marie and her attempts to keep three bedtime monsters at bay. Coming to the realization that monsters only come out at night, she uses very big scissors and cuts the moon out of the sky. This lunar night light works to keep her safe but there is a cost. With no moonlight, the village cats in the story were at a vision disadvantage. They began bumping into things and ending up in the cat hospital. Unable to catch the village mice, the streets were turned upside-down and much mischief was made. After discovering who took the moon, the king of cats finds Marie and they set the moon back in the sky. In gratitude, the king leaves her a feline bedtime protector and her monsters never return.

After reading this, Ella and I were both happy to see our own cats happy and healthy and grateful that they, too, like to curl up at the end of the bed as protectors. I highly recommend Marjane Satrapi for both her adult and children’s stories.

Rebecca Angel– Happy Marriage by Maki Enjoji

Happy Marriage by Maki Enjoji is a manga with sexual tension on every page. Interestingly, the two people involved are married from the get-go, but don’t know each other well. Things heat up quickly in this marriage made for financial reasons. Chiwa Takanashi and Hokuto Mamiya are fun characters to watch. They are both trying to make the best of an awkward situation, and try to get to know each other. It’s cute how they are falling in love, and trying out their physical relationship so slowly, and yet are already married. A twist on the regular romantic comedy. For adults. Find it on vizmanga’s website!

The X-Files #5 concludes the Believers arc that has opened Season 10, but considering the nature of the show, don’t expect events to be tied up with a neat bow by the end. We do get some answers such as why Yellowstone has been so important all along, but unfortunately the actions of the alien shape-shifter on page eight, or more specifically Mulder’s response to it, somewhat spoiled the story for me. Come on Mulder, you know better than that!

There are some fantastic action sequences included that fit nicely with the style of the show during it’s big-budget mytharc episodes, and it’s great to see Mulder and Scully back together, fighting side by side and defending one another as all hell erupts around them.

One thing I did really love about issue five was the ending. The cut back to an OPR hearing at the J. Edgar Hoover Building is absolutely perfect for the show; I could actually see the edit as it would have appeared on screen thanks to Michael Walsh’s artwork that perfectly mimicked the look of those scenes.

The dialogue here was some of the best in the season so far; I heard Scully’s lines clearly in her voice and her final monologue was just flowery enough to masquerade as some of Chris Carter’s infamous purple prose. One final thing I loved was page 16 which cleverly inverted one of the show’s most frequent tropes – well played Mr Harris, well played!

Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint — Featuring the Green Lantern includes some of my favorite Flashpoint stories, including: Abin Sur–The Green Lantern, #1-3;Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, #1-3; and Hal Jordan, #1-3. As a fan of Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern stories, I thought that Adam Schlagman’s Green Lantern issues were a nice complement to the familiar Green Lantern universe.

Abin Sur–The Green Lantern, #1-3

In contrast to the pre-Flashpoint stories, in this Green Lantern retelling, the protector of Universal Sector 2814, Abin Sur, is alive and well. As a result, Hal Jordan never takes the mantle as Earth’s Green Lantern protector.

The writers give incredible life to Abin Sur’s character. I felt his pain as he suffered at the hands of Sinestro, and I could see his will to survive and save Earth–a planet deemed by the Guardians as lost and “consumed by fear.” With Hal Jordan and Cyborg by his side, Abin uses all the will he can muster up to aid the allies in ending the war between the Amazons and Atlanteans.

We also learn a little more about the relationship Abin had with his sister, Arin Sur. We don’t get to see much of Arin, but we see enough to understand her significant role in Abin’s mentality as a Green Lantern; she is integral to his yearning to protect all life.

Another popular face in the Green Lantern corps is Sinestro. As Abin’s brother-in-law and fellow Green Lantern, we see how the death of Arin Sur and destruction of his home world affects his thinking, as well.

Prior to Flashpoint, Sinestro was the head of the Yellow Lanterns (also known as the Fear Corps). Now, Sinestro is more of an anti-hero who, upon discovering the Flashpoint prophecy via the Red Lantern, Atrocitus, goes on a quest to take Flash’s powers and revert the world back to its pre-Flashpoint incarnation. However, the prophecy doesn’t make manifest one tiny detail: Flash’s powers cannot just be “taken.”

Bummer.

In the end, Abin shows us that when all seems lost, in brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape his sight.

Hal Jordan, #1-3

Hal Jordan’s stories pale in comparison to Abin’s but I still found them amusing to read. I think the writers accurately depict how Hal Jordan would have turned out if he’d never received Abin’s ring. His ending feels like a page out of the 1996 film Independence day, and while I was happy that girlfriend and fellow pilot Carol Ferris wasn’t sacrificed at any point, I was saddened by how things ultimately played out for Hal.

Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, #1-3

Some critics regard Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown as one of the best stories in the Flashpoint series.

In these stories, Frankenstein is best described as a tough warrior with the heart of a romantic poet. Whether they are ending World War II or evading their creators, Frankenstein’s team of humans-turned-monsters works well together. I saw a lot of growth in the members as a team and enjoyed seeing them learn more about their origins as they took on the world together.

Despite the fact that Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the events of Flashpoint, I still highly recommend you check them out. The stories are entertaining to read, and in the end, I found them unforgettable.

The art for all three of these stories was spot-on with dialogue that was easy to follow. I empathized with the characters as if I was in each moment with them, facing their struggles, overcoming the obstacles that were in front of them.

I’ve borrowed the previous World of Flashpoint titles from my local library, but for World of Flashpoint – Featuring Green Lantern I had to break down and buy the title in order to review it. Initially, I’d planned to sell it online when I was finished reading it. Instead, I’m proudly adding it to my comic book shelf!

Come back next week, when I look at The World of Flashpoint — The Flash. The book has several significant ties to Flashpoint, so you won’t want to miss it!

Welcome back to another installment climbing the Cliffs of Insanity. This week’s column is a musing on equality, mostly in comics, but also flavored with some old time comic memories.

The cover to Black Lightning Year One, a terrific updating of the character. Unfortunately, he’s been largely ignored since.

While I’ve been a champion of more and better female representation in the comics industry, on the page and as creators, the big two companies also have another glaring inequality, and that’s with minority representation.

I’ve spoken previously to Brave New Soul’s producer/director Brandon Easton and writer Geoffrey Thorne about their comics work and the problems that minority characters face in the direct comic market.

It’s similar to the problems with marketing female-featured or female-led books: the direct market is insular and tends to appeal to long-time fans who aren’t female and aren’t minorities. Even if that is changing—and it’s difficult to find solid demographics on the mainstream comic audience—it’s still the perception that they won’t sell, and thus less of these books are even published.

A nasty catch-22.

Then, also, the companies can seem blind to problematic decisions involving race. Just this year, DC Comics was going to kill off John Stewart, arguably the most well-known Green Lantern, an order that caused the newly announced GL writer, Josh Fialkov, to quit before even his first issue appeared.

I’m guessing that DC’s reasoning was that they have many Green Lanterns, that there’s now another Green Lantern of color (Baz), and that John was expendable because Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner are more popular among regular comic readers. But it’s short-sighted because John is well-loved from the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons. He’s an icon, one of the very few widely known African-American superheroes—and that DC can’t figure out how to leverage him is a failure in marketing, not a failure in the character.

McDuffie was the creator of the Static Shock animated series, and a writer and producer of the Justice League series. He co-founded the minority owned-and-operated comic company, Milestone, and was a three time Eisner Award nominee. Those who don’t know his comic work probably have seen Ben 10: Alien Force.

McDuffie was one of the most prominent advocates for better representation of not just African-Americans in comics but for minority representation in general, though certainly not the only one.

His untimely death in 2011 was a tragedy for his family and a loss for the public, not just in the great stories left untold but because the comic world needed and still needs voices like his.

There have been a few hopeful signs of late.

Marvel, of course, deserves credit for the diverse X-Men characters. They also launched an all-female X-Men comic just last month, featuring Storm prominently. This issue hit #1 on the sales chart for the week, a promising sign. Marvel also has Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man in the Ultimate Universe. Moreover, Brian M. Bendis’ writing on Luke Cage, Power-Man, has moved that character to a prominent place in the Marvel Universe.

DC’s Katana comic is another on the positive side, though low sales may cancel it soon. The same applies to Batwing. Before the reboot that reset its universe, there were a slew of characters that weren’t all white bread: Cassandra Cain, the new Batgirl, Ryan Choi, the new Atom, and Renee Montoya, the new Question. Unfortunately, Cassandra and Ryan seem permanently MIA and Montoya is definitely not the Question any longer.

Why not more? The problems are two-fold. The first is that most of the iconic characters were created decades ago when few would think of creating a non-white or female or LGBT lead superhero. The second is that new characters, no matter what ethnicity or gender, don’t sell well in the very rigid direct market. Direct market readers want the familiar. (And they tend to be nostalgic about it. See below, as I’m not immune to this.) To use the above example, Cassandra Cain was replaced by the more well-known Barbara Gordon. Montoya gave way to a re-imagining of original Vic Sage’s identity of the Question. And the Atom? Apparently, she’s now a woman, which is good, but even before then, Choi was unceremoniously killed.

I wish, especially as I’m writing this on the Fourth of July, that I could think of one Native American hero that the general public would know. I can think of Forge and Warpath of the X-men, and Dawnstar from the Legion of Super-Heroes but no others instantly come to mind. I do love Aym Geronimo, though she’s an independent creation and, as much as I would wish otherwise, her reach is a bit limited.

There have been some successes. Cyborg is prominent in the new 52 Justice League. Batwoman (Kate Kane), a lesbian, has proved that re-imagining a character can work. She was introduced slowly, over several years, and then took over Detective Comics for a year before getting her own title. Luke Cage’s use also proves a single writer advocate (Bendis) can make a huge difference in a character’s prominence.

But there’s still a long way to go—why is Jefferson Pierce and his family so infrequently used lately at DC?—and simply saying “well, these don’t sell,” isn’t a good answer.

Comics are aspirational, as I’ve said before, and it’s important that people of all colors, genders, and sexual preferences are represented as heroes.

One very positive sign outside comics: Agents of S.H.I.E,L.D. is coming Tuesdays this fall (WOOT!!!) and it has a nicely diverse cast that hopefully will filter into the comics if the show is a hit.

And speaking of heroes, there’s a fascinating backlash against the smashy last third going on in the critiques of Man of Steel…

CRITIC HULK IS AWFULLY COHERENT

Though I prefer Hulk in small doses, especially Drunk Hulk on Twitter, Film Crit Hulk has a lengthy takedown of Man of Steel, including the major plot turning points involving Pa Kent and Superman becoming a hero. (Warning: way too much all caps there, Hulk.)

Mostly, after writing my review of the ten things I loved and hated about the movie, I desperately wished for one moment like the barrel of monkeys rescue in Iron Man 3. It was everything I love about action sequences in superhero movies.

Instead, I got lots of punches into building. Do better with the Man of Steel sequel, Warner Bros. Big spectacle fights are fine but heroism among spectacle is even better.

I found this in my small remaining stash of oversize comics. The edit cut off the price tag but in case you’re wondering what it cost back then, it was $2.50. And, yes, I did buy it new.I wanted to believe a man could fly and, for a moment, the movie carried that belief.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week, I look at Green Lantern #20 and Kelly gives us a look at the new, all-female-cast, X-men series.

Dakster Sullivan — Green Lantern #21 (2011-)

Green Lantern #21 (2011-) is the first Green Lantern issue without longtime writer Geoff Johns’ touch. I was worried about how well I would enjoy the series now that he’s gone. It’s still going to take another couple of issues for me to really get settled in, but I think the new writer, Robert Venditti, is definitely on the right track.

If you’ll recall, at #20’s close we were left reading about the futures of all our favorite characters. However, there was still a great deal of intervening history that had hitherto gone untold.

Since all but two of the old Guardians were killed after their attempt to eradicate the Lantern Corps (for more on that, see Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army), the old Guardians have been replaced by new members…for now. The action begins when our hero Hal Jordon, mid-conversation with on-off girlfriend Carol Ferris, is summoned to the Green Lantern home planet of Oa by these new Guardians for a briefing.

Kyle Rayner, a former Green Lantern (see Green Lantern: New Guardians #17) makes a guest appearance here as the White Lantern, and when the Guardians make Hal the leader of the Corps, he has a list of reasons why he doesn’t agree with their decision-making. This leads to a fun bit of comedy-relief. The Guardians have some good reasons for their decision, though, and leave Hal Jordan to take care of things while they venture off to learn more about the universe they are now tasked with governing.

As Kyle points out, Hal was instrumental in causing a few of the conflicts the Green Lanterns have encountered over the years, so putting Hal in charge seems akin to asking for trouble. As someone who has a hard time following orders, it will be interesting to see how Hal handles things now as a leader. After all, it would be understandable if some of the people now under his command occasionally reminded Hal that he hasn’t exactly been known for following the rules himself.

So, Hal has his work cut out for him as he enters into his first item of business: rebuilding both the corps and the home world.

Moments after Hal releases the rings from their chambers to search the universe for new recruits, avaricious Orange Lantern (aka LarFleeze) strikes, his only goal to steal everything and anything. Meanwhile, the new recruits arrive and they look like little more than teenagers (if that). It’s almost as though the rings set up a recruitment station on the grounds of an alien daycare.

All of the Green Lanterns that I know of were well into adulthood when they were unwillingly recruited into the Corps. Since the rings only select those with a great will to wear them, I’m curious to know what stuff these young recruits are made of…what made them more preferable candidates to someone older with more experience?

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of Lanterns these kids make–that is, if they live long enough after the ensuing battle to get any training. DC doesn’t exactly have a stellar survival record with its youngest characters (for more on this, see the recent deaths of Damian Wayne and Cliff, the teenage son of Animal Man).

X-Men #1, written by Brian Wood with art by Oliver Coipel, kicked off in May with a strong start – the top selling comic book for the month. As you’ve probably heard by now, the ongoing series features an all-female lineup with longtime favorite X-Men like Storm (back with the mohawk!), Rogue, Jubilee, Kitty Pryde, and more.

The story is off to an intriguing beginning and strikes the right balance for new and veteran X-Men audiences. What’s more, it is refreshing to see a comic book with women who are clothed almost from head to toe — Coipel draws the X-Men with reasonable proportions and costumes that actually cover their skin (even Psylocke).

I’m not the only one singing the praises of the new series and the women of the X-Men, though. Singer Adam WarRock dedicates this song to the “ladies with the X on the chest” – the “X-Women!”

Time Warner has been reluctant to join the world of subscription streaming, instead clinging to the customers who pay for their cable service. But starting March 30, Netflix geeks in the US will see some new (old) favorites to add to their queues, including Adventure Time, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Green Lantern, Johnny Bravo, and Robot Chicken.

The agreement includes complete previous seasons of both animated and live-action programming from Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, and Adult Swim (and Dallas, though if you’ve been dying to relive that, you’ll have to wait until 2014). You’ll be seeing Ben 10, Regular Show, The Boondocks, and Childrens Hospital all at the end of March.

This comes only a week after the two companies announced several Warner Brothers TV shows would be heading to Netflix, including the now-cancelled 666 Park Avenue and Chuck and soon-to-end Fringe. Other shows you’ll soon find on Netflix thanks to that deal: Revolution, Political Animals, Longmire, The Following, and The West Wing. It covers potential future shows as well, all of which could be available in the traditional syndication windows or on “catch-up basis” for recent episodes of shows that are still on the air.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week, we also have a special request from you, our readers.

Dakster Sullivan — Green Lantern: Larfleeze, Christmas Special

While looking around for comic books with a holiday theme, I came across the Green Lantern one shot, Larfleeze Christmas Special by Geoff Johns. I enjoy Geoff Johns’s storytelling, so I knew I was in for a good story.

Larfleeze was a great character for a Christmas special because he’s a very selfish and gimme gimme type of character. The story follows Larfleeze on his first Christmas on Earth. After writing a very long wish list to Santa and then waking up to find nothing under his tree, Larfleeze sets out to find the big man in red and take what he believes should be his.

Eventually Green Lantern Hal Jordan shows up and tries to teach him the true meaning of Christmas.

The ending wasn’t what I was expecting and it left me a little sad. I felt sorry for Larfleeze and even with as selfish as he is, I felt bad for him. The story’s mood gets a little lighter afterwards with a short “after” story featuring his only companion (and orange lantern construct) Gloom.

Green Lantern: Larfleeze, Christmas Special is available on Comixology and is recommended for ages 12 and up. The only thing that keeps me from arguing the rating of 12 and up, is the revelation of Santa Clause by Green Lantern. In short, if your child is under 12 and no longer believes in the man in red, this should be okay for them to read.

I’m putting together a list of must read comic book series and graphic novels and I need your help. I’m a comic book newbie who wants to learn more about this amazing world I’ve discovered. Leave me a comment with your suggestion and I will add it to my reading list for 2013. My goal is to read everything by the end of the year and report back to you each week in Comic Book Corner with what I’ve read.

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is the latest addition to the Lego DC Universe. I loved the first Lego Batman game so I was super excited to see that Lego was once again on good terms with the Bat and his friends.

One of the charms of the previous Lego games was the way the characters communicated with grunts and groans, verses words. The subtitles on the screen and their body language were enough to keep you informed on the story and added a little extra humor to game. Unlike in the previous game, this time the characters communicate with actual words instead of sounds and body language. This is a pretty big change for Lego and even though it’s a little weird, it’s not a bad change.

The story revolves around the usual Batman villains but with a surprise twist; Lex Luthor teams up with the Joker in an effort to create a mind controlling gas and brain wash the citizens into voting him for President of the United States. Since you can’t have Lex with out Superman, the man of steel eventually shows up to help out the capped crusader.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week we take a look at Time Masters: Vanishing Point, Birds of Prey #0, as well as what’s on sale on Comixology this week.

Dakster Sullivan –Time Masters: Vanishing Point

Ever since being introduced to Booster Gold’s comic book side in the new 52 Justice League International, I’ve wanted to learn more about the gold and yellow hero from the future. This week I checked out DC Comics Time Masters: Vanishing Point (written by Dan Jurgens and art by Norm Rapmund) from my local library and from page one, I couldn’t put it down. While the main story follows Rip Hunter, Booster Gold, Superman and Green Lantern’s mission to find Batman in the time stream, the story itself seems to focus more on Rip Hunter and how he became the time master he is now.

In another Booster Gold story I read, I was really confused by the time traveling aspect of things. This story on the other hand, was really easy to follow and made up for the confusion I experienced in the last story I read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Booster Gold and Rip Hunter. If you are a Superman, Batman or Green Lantern fan, I would choose another story to pick up as they don’t have very strong rolls in this story.You can purchase Time Masters: Vanishing Point on Amazon and select comic book retailers.

Zero month continues for DC Comics, and last week I picked up Birds of Prey #0 (written by Duane Swierczynski and art by Romano Molenaar). The last few covers for Birds of Prey have been gorgeous, and the Zero issue is no exception. I’m a new fan of cover artist Stanley Lau.

While Birds of Prey #0 is an entertaining and slightly predictable origin story for the team, the continuity problems posed by having Batgirl on the team continue to be a distraction. Their meeting is only supposed to have happened a year ago, which seems to conflict with the timeline of Batgirl #0. Additionally, the costume Barbara wears in the issue doesn’t match up with her other costume shown in Batgirl #0, not to mention that the attack by the Joker and her recovery seem like a lot to fit in just a year… well, it’s best not to think about it all too long, or I’ll just end up with a headache.

Birds of Prey #0 ends with a little twist and setup for the future, so it’s worth picking up if you already have the series on your pull list.

Corrina

Wonder Woman may be busy with Superman off in Justice League but she’s also back to old stomping grounds, having landed the cover of the 40th anniversary issue of Ms. Magazine. The cover is a homage to the first issue of the magazine, which also featured the Amazon Princess:

Perhaps Gloria Steinem will weigh in on the changes to Wonder Woman’s origin, which now include her as the illegitimate daughter of Zeus and in which the Amazons have changed from a peaceful culture to one that depends on seducing unwitting sailors and murdering them after.

Thanos 99 cent Sale (ends at 11pm EST on 9/27) – If you’ve never read about Thanos, this is the perfect time to pick up some digital reads about one of the most popular villains in the Marvel Universe.

The Dark Knight Returns 99 cent Sale
This sale encompases select issues form The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Batman: Year One and All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week.

Dakster Sullivan – Green Lantern: New Guardians #11In this month’s issue, our heroes are ticked off and ready to kick some tail. After coming to their own conclusion that Larfleeze stole the lantern rings, they headed back to The Hall of Orange Lanterns to deal with him. The battle that ensues is intense, but really easy to follow. Without spoiling too much, we lose a member of the team who I have to admit has grown on me.

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week.

Dakster Sullivan – Green Lantern: New Guardians

This past week I had a case of the “I want something new” blues. None of my current subscriptions had new issues last week, so it was as good a time as any to pick up a new title. I’m already reading Geoff John’s New 52 Green Lantern series so I figured why not pick up New 52 Green Lantern: New Guardians. It seemed like a logical choice since I’m enjoying the Green Lantern so much.

Before reading the series, I asked my Facebook friends if the Green Lantern and Green Lantern: New Guardians shared the same universe. To my surprise, DC Comics writer (Green Lantern New Guardians) Tony Bedard himself explained it to me:

“Yeah, all the Green Lantern titles share the same universe. And pretty soon they’ll be tying together a bit more closely, so you may as well check out New Guardians. ”

Sold! I love it when some of the titles I’m reading actually tie into each other. It really adds to my reading experience.

As the DC Comics New 52 Justice League and Justice League International Volume 1 are released, I’ve been looking back at my first experiences in the comic book world. Since January, a few of my articles ended up on DC Comics Facebook page, I met both Tony Bedard and Dan Didio, and I made a new comic book friend in Bill McCray. Comic Book Corner on GeekMom is going strong and I enjoy not only contributing, but also reading the other GeekMoms’ take on the comic book world.

When I first started reading the new 52, I was really excited that I was getting a fresh start with some of my favorite characters. I’m happy to say that not only am I still reading the series I started with, but my love for the characters has forced me to start reading some of their individual series as well.

Justice League is holding their own and the first issue has already gone back to print for a record seventh time. The story keeps getting better and never lets me down. I am really enjoying the mix of action and humor between the characters. Green Lantern has been a nice compliment to the Flash and proving he has a few smart tailed comments of his own. I’m interested to see how Colonel Trevor’s storyline turns out. He appears to be having issues of his own.

Happy Comic Book Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week.

Dakster Sullivan — New 52 Green Lantern Issue #9In the latest issue of the New 52 Green Lantern, we learn about the origins of the Indigo Tribe and how Abin Sur is connected to them. In his attempt to free Sinestro from the Indigo light, Hal Jordan learns more about Abin Sur’s connection to the tribe. We also learn that Nok means “compassion be with you” and is also the name of the Indigo Tribe’s world.

When DC announced their new 52 series, I was ecstatic. I have always wanted to get into reading the Superman, Batman, and the Justice League comics. What scared me out of getting into it was all the history I didn’t know. The new 52 gave me what I was looking for…a fresh start with all my favorite comic book characters. I would like to think I know a lot about Batman and the others, but the truth is I am a complete newbie to their comic book worlds.

Most comic book lovers know that what you read in the comics and what you see on the cartoons are two entirely different things. The Joker for instance went from being a murdering psycho, (comics), to just a psycho who was more of a nuisance in Batman’s side, (animated series). My younger brother and I would have long discussions comparing what he was reading in the comics to what I would see on TV. The fact that one character could have so many incarnations still amazes, (and confuses), me.

I have started to read The Justice League and Justice League International and I love them both. Justice League hit the ground running with the team not being in formation and Darkseid being the main villain. In the first five issues, they already have a majority of their team introduced, so from here on out I expect it to be about kicking Darkseid’s tail and eventually proving to the world that they are the good guys.

Justice League International started a little slower. I already see issues with how the team was formed. It makes me wonder what is really going on in the U.N. They have already kicked some butt but they have a long way to being a good team. The next few issues I think it will be more about Booster as the leader and how he gets the team to be more of a team. I also expect that the issues some of the U.N officials have with the team will come to light.

As for characters, my favorite character in Justice League right now is Barry Allan as the Flash. I have always preferred Barry Allan over Wally West because I feel Barry is more adult and mature. Wally was always a horn dog in the cartoon series. The words exchanged between Flash and the other members is quick and to the point. He makes a joke and moves on. It’s also nice to see him still have a friendship with a Green Lantern like in the Justice League animated series. Green Lantern, (Hal Jordan), seems to be a prick with an ego. I don’t know much about him as a Lantern so I don’t have anything to compare him to. I was warned not to see the movie so I read a book that day instead.

In Justice League International, I was taken back when it was announced that Booster Gold was the leader of the team. I know Booster briefly from the cartoon series and to be honest, I was not impressed. Another big surprise to me in Justice League International is the strong presence that Batman has. It feels like the creators are using him to draw in the readers with a popular character. It worked. In this series though, Batman seems to have had an adjustment to his attitude. He acts almost like a big brother to Booster. He doesn’t lead the team, but he does give Booster little hints at what he should do. Don’t get me wrong, he still has that “don’t screw with me unless you want your jaw in four pieces” attitude. He just seems a little friendlier on this team than I remember him in the cartoon series.

All in all, I never realized how fun it was to read comic books. The only downside I have found is the comics themselves are not that long…Ohh well, next month the new one will come out and I’ll get my fix again.

The synopsis of this movie is while the Green Lantern Corps are waiting before a battle, Hal Jordan and the other Green Lanterns recount stories of their past adventures to a new Green Lantern recruit.

I’m personally rather exited to see this movie, mostly due to the fact that Nathan Fillion is voicing Hal Jordan. I have, with past movies, really enjoyed the animated movie versions of favorite comic book stories.

Here is a video of Nathan Fillion talking about Green Lantern:

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is a direct-to-video release from Warner Home Video that is available now.